Pornography & Prostitution

Chapter 15 Pornography & Prostitution Pornography  Written, visual, or audio-taped material that is sexually explicit and produced for purposes of eliciting or enhancing sexual arousal  Explicit, raw  Might be viewed as obscene, disgusting Erotica  Books, pictures, etc. that have to do with sexual love and beauty  Sexual material that is artistically produced or motivated by artistic intent  Artistic  Sensual rather than sexual  Themes of love and romance rather than SEX Prevalence of Pornography  NHSLS - 23% males 11% females  MultiBillion dollar business  Videos, Magazines, CD/DVDs, Internet, Phone  Class data: All Male Female  Video f 16.34 45.39 4.02  Book f 32.39 80.44 12.43  Buy f 1.13 2.39 .41 Obscenity & the Law: Is it Obscene?  Would average/reasonable person find the material appeals to prurient interests?  Average? Reasonable?  Does the material depict sexual acts offensively, as defined by state law?  Offensive to whom?  Does the work lack literary, artistic, political, or scientific value?  Who decides?  A reasonable person? Pornography Under Siege  Video (5 minutes) Group Activity VIII: Pornography  In mixed gender groups of 4-5 students:  Rate each of the next 4 pictures using this scale: 1 2 3 4 5 Erotica Neutral Obscene/Porn

Do this first by yourself, then discuss and come up with a group rating. Group Activity VIII: Pornography  Now address the following issues:  What themes seem common to pictures you rated low/high?  Is pornography harmful or harmless? Why?  Is there a gender difference in your group?  If so what is it and why do you think it exists? Gender Differences in R to Pornography  Physiological & subjective arousal similar  Quackenbush et al (1995)  Explicit sexual material w/ love/affective most arousing  M = W in subjective arousal to love/affection  Motive/interest for pornography differs  M > W  Market dominated by products for men  Visual? Reaction Paper VII: Porn & Sexual Coercion  Do you think viewing pornography is related to incidences of sexual coercion (rape)?  Why or why not?  Based on your response do you think all pornography should be outlawed? Pornography & Sexual Coercion  Conservative-moralist position  Condemns all sexually explicit materials  Threat to social institutions (family)  Feminist position  Sexually explicit materials degrade women as objects, promote sexual violence  Liberal position  Sexually explicit materials are harmless  Educational & helpful to overcome inhibitions Pornography & Sexual Coercion  Commission on Obscenity & Pornography  1970 government commission  Concluded that porn was not harmful, no casual link to sexual violence against women  Pornography and sex offenders  No link to sex offenders  BUT may arouse existing deviant urges Pornography & Sexual Coercion  Meese Commission (1985 - Reagan)  Concluded causal link between sexual violence & violent pornography  No link for nonviolent pornography  So does it or doesn’t it?  Yes & no Donnerstein & Malamuth (1997)  Non-violent pornography has no consistent effects on sexual aggression  Angered males who are aroused can become aggressive (but this is thought due to general arousal)  May impact negative attitudes towards women  Dehumanization  Objectification Donnerstein & Malamuth (1997)  Violent pornography impacts sexual aggression  Increases tendency to be aggressive towards females  Especially when victim portrayed as aroused  Disinhibition (rape not so bad)  Encourages belief in rape myths  Discourage empathy w/ rape victims Day 2 Prostitution  Sale of sex for money ($7 Billion-$9 Billion/year business)  Most are women and motive is money  Coercion rare  Most customers are male and motives vary  Incidence  Kinsey  2/3 males visited prostitute > once  Fewer college educated males  Current < 10% Class Data (N = 104, Females = 74)  Have you ever paid someone else to perform a sexual act for your sexual gratification?  YES!  Males - 20.7%  Females - 0.0% Type of Prostitutes  Hierarchy reflecting cost, status & adjustment  ~2 million in US  Streetwalkers (bar)- bottom & short-term  Cheapest, least desirable, drug abuse, pimps  Dysfunctional, sexually abused, teen runaways  Sexual enjoyment (Savitz & Rosen, 1988)  Many report work-sex very satisfying sometimes  60% report O w/ customers  Non-work sex enjoyable also Type of Prostitutes  Brothel - middle  Legal (Nevada) or massage parlors  Live at brothel to service customers 24/7  More desirable, more expensive, better adjustment, adult movie stars, less drugs & sexual abuse, no pimp  Married, normal life Type of Prostitutes  Call girls - top (Heidi Fleiss)  Most desirable, high fees  Educated & middle class, well adjusted socially, charming company (not drug addicts)  Act like a lover Customers of Female Prostitutes  Male, married, middle-class, occasional, healthy  Motives - why visit a prostitute?  Sex w/o negotiation or commitment  Sexual variety  Sex away from home  STARVATION Characteristics of Prostitutes  Being a prostitute (especially lower levels like streetwalker) is associated with:  Poverty  Sexual or physical abuse  BUT only 12% abused become prostitutes  Dysfunctional family (runaway)  Psychological problems  Farley (1998) - 66% have PTSD (v. 30% of vets)  Personality: Impulsive sensation seekers Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991)  Argues for decriminalization of prostitution  1959 UN concluded it should not be a crime  Many organizations demanding decriminalization  ACLU  NOW  COYOTE  Rationales for laws poor

Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991)  Society views it as immoral  Studies suggest majority support decriminalization  Laws prevent spread of VDs  Prostitutes account for only 5% of VD in US  Europe: VD rates decrease after legalization  Laws prevent crimes associated w/ prostitution  Few prostitutes are addicts, criminals  Laws encourage attacks (customers, pimps)

Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991)  Prostitution is harmful to prostitutes  ONLY streetwalkers exhibit pathology  Addicts,PTSD, sexually abused, etc.  Higher-level prostitutes~controls on pathology, abuse  Decriminalization still would outlaw juvenile Ps  Laws deter prostitution  ~2 million prostitutes in US  Don’t deter customers Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991)  Decriminalization could have positive effects  Less physical abuse to prostitutes, customers  Less pandering, incidental crime, VD  Save millions in prohibition attempts  Seattle spends $1 Million/year  Could tax this $7 Billion/year Reaction Paper VIII: Legalization  Do you think prostitution should be legalized? Explain your position in light of Rio’s arguments.  PLEASE TURN THIS IN AFTER CLASS! Conclusions  Commercial sex common  Pornography  Non-violent not harmful?  Violent harmful  Prostitution  Complex causes  Legal, moral issues